Editor’s note: Two Southwest Washington men are attempting to hike the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail the 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada.
The Columbian is publishing periodic updates on their progress north as information becomes available:
o Morgen Glessing, 22, of Woodland will reach Tehachapi, Calif., today, about 550 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border.
He has been hiking with a Rhode Island through-hiker averaging 25 to 30 miles a day. Glessing is about 10 days from the start of the Sierra Mountains.
“We got caught in a sizeable snowstorm and were stuck in our tents for 18 hours waiting it out,” he writes.
“The desert has been quite the experience and while at first I did not enjoy it, I have learned to appreciate it. I am excited to begin the entry to the high country as that will be similar to my previous experience in the outdoors. I have high hopes for the views and daily scenery.”
o Anthony Mannello, 27, of Vancouver took five days off the trail at Bishop, Calif. His break included going into town with other hikers to bowl, watch a movie and have dinner together.
Mannello and another hiker took a side trip to Death Valley, visiting the salt flats.
On Tuesday, he wrote: “Back on the trail today as we finish up a few last-minute errands. After five days off the trail, six days of food on our backs and the 11,000-foot Kearsarge Pass in our way, these next few days are going to be rough. But I’m excited to be back on the trail.”
Bishop is about 830 miles from Mexico along the trail.
